A Little About Me...

Hello, my name is Raye Savittiere and I’m so grateful that you’re here. The following is a small portion of my story.

I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, a place where nature quietly takes hold of your heart.

Animals and plants were my first refuge, and I sensed early on that I experienced the world with

a different kind of sensitivity. That sensitivity eventually led me into veterinary medicine. I began

as a veterinary assistant shortly after high school and soon learned what many animal lovers

discover: every pet carries a human story with them, and veterinary medicine is as much about

people as it is about their pets.

In 2008, my path carried me from Portland, Oregon to Austin, Texas, where I spent the last 17

years living, working and traveling extensively. I am a naturally curious person with a deep

desire to experience cultures, food and natural beauty around the globe. Travel has opened me

in profound ways— from volunteering and bearing witness to poverty in India, to the splendor

and delight of Italy, the beauty of tradition in Turkey and experiencing the Sacred Valley of Peru

to name a few. It was in Peru that I faced a close encounter with my own mortality, an

experience that awakened in me a deep spiritualism and a clearer sense of purpose: to walk

alongside others in times of transition, with steadiness and reverence for the sacredness of life

and death.

During my first 7 years in Austin I worked in an emergency animal hospital, where I bore witness

to countless tender and difficult moments. Being present for end-of-life care—holding space for

both animals and the people who loved them—shaped my understanding of compassion. I

learned that what families most need in those moments is not distance or professionalism, but

presence, humanity, and gentleness.

All of these experiences changed how I hold space. Whether with animals, their families, or now

with humans at the threshold of life and death, I bring presence, tenderness, and respect for the

mystery of it all. I am a student of life, which means that I am also a student of death. There is

much to be learned about ourselves and about our loved ones as they exit this realm

In 2022, I became a Certified Death Midwife through Sacred Crossings, deepening my ability to

serve individuals and families in these sacred transitions. I am truly honored to be doing this

work and connecting with humans in one of the most human of moments.

In May 2025, my husband and I moved to beautiful Upstate New York, where we found a

community and landscape that feel like home. I am grateful to extend my services here,

supporting my neighbors with care, presence, and reverence as they navigate life’s final

chapter.

A’ho ~Raye